Well, my favorite time of year is here again! Holiday Shopping Sale Season! 

As a self-proclaimed shopaholic, I am excited to see what deals I take advantage of and find for my friends! 

Listed below I’ll start tracking the Holiday Shopping Deals I find and any special info I locate on upcoming deals! 

As of November 18, 2021

• Cambox - Up to $100 off cameras 

  • No code needed

• Sport Horse Essentials - 15% off 

  • No code needed

• Shop Hunt Club - 25% off sitewide

  • Code: BF2021

• Purvida Healthy Horse - Buy 1, Get 1 50% off with free shipping

  • No code necessary

• Pivo - 50% off

  • No code necessary

• Equisafety - up to 75% off

  • No code necessary

• Heartland Vet Supply - 20% off select items

  • No code necessary

November 21 Update

• Chick’s Discount Saddlery - Up to 85% off select items

  • No code necessary

• Collegiate Saddlery - Various discounts and free shipping over $100 including Weatherbeeta, Dublin, Saxon and Crosby lines.

  • No code necessary

• Noel Asmar Equestrian - Up to 75% off

  • No code necessary

• Free Ride Equestrian - 20% off all products

  • Code: Black20

November 22 Update

• Haybales & Barbells - 50% off programs

  • Code is located on the top bar of the website

• LeMieux - 40% off select rider items and 50% off select horse items

  • No code necessary

• Hufglocken - 21% off sitewide

  • Code: Black2021

• Tack of the Day - Savings up to 79%, 10% off sitewide

  • No code needed

November 23 Update

• Bascule Bonnets - 20% off

  • Code: 2021Holidays

• Equestrian Stockholm - Up to 50% off

  • No code needed

• Dover Saddlery - 50% off select Breeches, Shirts and Tights

  • Code: CMXBOGOBF

• Connected Rider - up to 70% off select items

  • No code needed

• Redmond Equine - Buy 2 products, get 1 free

  • No code needed

• Bit of Britain - 10% off all orders

  • No code needed

November 24 Update

• SmartPak - 15% off

  • Code: BF2021

• HalterEgo - up to 40% off sitewide

  • No code needed

• NunnFiner - 20% off sitewide

  • No code needed

• HayGain - 10% off select items

  • No code needed

November 25 Update

• Incrediwear - Buy 2, Get 1 Free

  • No code needed

• Majyk Equipe - 10% off

  • Code: Black10

Starting November 26

• Henry James Saddlery - up 70% off

  • No code needed

• The Savvy Eventer - New items dropping and sale

  • Code will be updated

As a runner, I am fully aware of the importance of being fit enough to complete your race without injury. You log countless hours into your training and do your best to ensure that your nutritional needs are met along with any cross-training necessary to improve your race performance. For riding, on the other hand, I’ve tended to say “oh I’m a runner and I do all my own barn chores, I’m fit enough”. When I would read about other bloggers dedicating time to their own fitness I would laugh and ignore them preaching “fitness is everything”. I’m a half marathon runner, that has to be good enough. Well folks, after my first event, let me tell you that it is not enough. 

Rider fitness is a theme commonly discussed by various bloggers and equestrian magazines but sometimes I don’t think we take it seriously enough. My first event went fairly well in terms of I stayed on the horse, didn’t die, and finished on a number, not a letter. But my personal fitness left a lot to be desired. 

The day before my little group and I went cross country schooling. We spent several hours on the XC course schooling every jump and working through Cupid’s water issues. During this schooling session, I found myself collapsing at the shoulders, swinging my leg back, and letting my leg off as I got more exhausted. My jumps got sloppier and I could seriously feel the ride in my hips and back. I chalked this up to spending 3+ hours out on course, while Cupid was conditioned to 3+ hour rides I was used to those rides being simple trail rides. 

The next morning, I woke up feeling the overuse from the day before. Walking was a bit stiff, tacking up made me alert to some tension in my shoulders and back, and I was utterly exhausted. The high point of dressage is that we stayed in the arena and did something resembling the Beginner Novice Test A. The low point is that we entered the arena spooking, and I managed to completely forget how to ride from my leg. Show Jump was completed but had a super fun rider error in which I lost my leg on a combination. Cross Country was where I started to feel the impact of my lack of fitness. We started fairly solid and picked up a decent pace, but after the 3rd fence, I could feel my lack of core strength and my lower leg being completely ineffective. If Cupid wasn’t such a game partner who truly likes cross country then we never would have made it through the course with no refusals. I walked away from this event feeling extremely proud of Cupid and extremely let down by myself. I had expected my partner to be fit and ready to go, yet invested virtually no time into my own fitness. 

As riders, we spend hours working on our mounts and their needs. We ensure they have a properly balanced diet, we invest in all the latest and greatest therapy items, we spend hours building their fitness the right way, yet we spend virtually no time on ourselves. For us, we decide that a breakfast of Diet Coke and Pop Tarts is enough, we pop Tylenol to battle our aches and pains, and we assume our barn chores have us covered for our fitness levels.

Well, folks, I’m here to say that enough is enough. Your mounts deserve better. 

By preparing Cupid but not myself I ended up expecting her to carry us through the day as opposed to being a 50/50 partnership. As riders, we can spend hours preparing in the saddle trying to emulate top riders and wishing we could have half the success that they do. But the biggest factor, outside of finances, that sets the top riders on top is their dedication to the sport. Top riders will spend hours in the saddle, riding multiple horses each day, but also turn around and put in hours in the gym. Their focus is not only on their horses but also on themselves bringing themselves to a 50/50 partnership. 

Since that event, I have logged more hours than before on my own fitness. I’ve gone back to focusing on building my base fitness through running. I’ve been utilizing a 5k training program designed to improve my speed and dedicating more time to hill repeats. No, not trotting or cantering up a hill, I’m talking full-on jogging up the hill propelled by my own two feet. I’ve also 

begun using several strength training programs designed specifically for equestrians. One of the programs I have completed was a two-week boot camp designed to provide a full-body workout for equestrians. I’ve also begun completing focused upper body, core, and lower body workouts. All designed to focus on muscles used by equestrians. 

After several weeks of daily workouts, I’ve noticed a rapid improvement in my equitation. My lower leg is far more stable over fences, my upper body is far more relaxed with less collapsing of my shoulders, and I’m actually able to support my ride through my core. When you’re able to sit the trot without feeling like popcorn you know that your fitness program is beginning to work. 

Now, I’m not trying to shame anyone into working out. But take a look at your fitness and just consider how much focusing on yourself could help your ride. I know it’s made me feel like a much better rider!

Yesterday, while bagging out the weeks feed for my little herd I got to thinking about lessons I’ve learned when it comes to feeding my horses. Note, any opinions towards feed brands I mention are based on my experiences and horses. Not every feed is suitable for every horse and all feeding choices should be made off your own research. 

1. Always know what your horses are being fed and why

Ration bags for the herd. Each horse has an individual labeled bag listing their name and which meal it is for.

When I bought Cupid she was being fed Nutrena Proforce Fuel, as was every horse in that barn. I dutifully fed her what the trainer required and the amount on the board. The horse I had at that time was spooky, prone to “blowing up”, and difficult to get to focus. Once when getting her from her paddock she spooked and took off around the property for a good 10 minutes. There had been nothing out of the ordinary and nothing to cause her to spook, just a pony running around for the sake of running. 

After I moved her to a new location I was suddenly given several different Seminole Brand feeds to choose from. Being encouraged to pick what I wanted her to be fed opened my eyes to the importance of knowing your feed. I was able to select a feed that worked for Cupid nutritionally, Seminole Perform Safe, and once she was more nutritionally balanced, I discovered that I actually had an extremely solid horse. 

Now that we’re on our own I spend a significant amount of my free time researching the different brands of horse feed and balancing nutrition rations to ensure my horses all receive what they need. Each horse has a customized feed plan, utilizing Triple Crown Feed products, to their own needs and each horse has truly blossomed health-wise. Chance receives a ration balancer with some senior feed, along with supplements, to ensure that he maintains weight without gaining too much as he does not have strenuous work. Foxy a ration balancer with a bit of senior feed and her supplements to help her maintain her weight. Cupid receives a ration balancer, with supplements, because she’s an air plant despite being in the most work out of the three. Knowing that each horse is receiving the best feed for their own needs is a truly satisfying feeling. 

2. Research your feed

Feed storage neatly labeled and kept clean.

Along the same train of thought as the last point, I highly recommend that all horse owners research their feed on their own. Not only will you know exactly what your horse is being fed but you’ll be able to balance their feed as necessary. Several elements that I look for in feed are low iron content, high copper and zinc content, and the balance of omega 3 vs. omega 6. It is also extremely important to me for feed companies to be as transparent as possible. My ideal feed company will list the full nutritional value of each feed and not hide elements such as Magnesium, Potassium, or Vitamin levels. 

Feed companies should also be reputable and accessible. If I am unable to find information out online or through local resources then I contact the feed company directly. A feed company that is not transparent and does not respond to customer inquiries is honestly a company that I do not wish to deal with. For a quick reference, I have put together a comparison sheet of various feeds. As I continue my research I will update this chart to reflect more feeds brands and types. If you have any questions or wish to see any additional feeds added just let me know!

3. Feed by weight, not scoop

Feed scale to assist with accurately measuring out portions.

The biggest thing that has made a difference to my feeding program is feeding by weight not by the scoop. For around $10 I was able to purchase a nice little food scale from Amazon and for $1 I purchased a measuring cup that fits nicely on the scale to weigh feed. Once a week I weigh out the weekly rations and package them in individual containers labeled with the name of the horse, and mealtime. While weighing feed does take a bit longer than simply scooping it has helped me create a solid feeding plan that covers all the nutritional needs of each horse. 

If weighing feed seems intimidating then reach out to your feed companies to inquire about any cups or scoops they might have specifically made for their feeds. Triple Crown has cups that are designed specifically for their feeds and marked with weight increments. When I checked the markings against my scale I was pleasantly surprised to discover it was accurate! 

4. Don’t be afraid to cut the feed amount

Triple Crown’s Feed Measuring Cup accurately reflects feed weight and helps me in preparing the ration bags.

When Cupid started gaining excessive weight I was reluctant to cut her feed. It felt mean and I was afraid she would not be nutritionally balanced anymore. After some research, I determined how to adjust her feed to better suit her calorie needs and maintain a solid nutrition balance. Since getting over my guilt Cupid has gone from a fat butterball to a solid weight in much better condition. 

Since the initial feed decrease, I have been more comfortable adjusting feed rations as needed. When Chance appeared to pack on the pounds overnight I calmly decreased his senior feed levels and added the ration balancer to keep his nutrition profile in check. Taking charge of feed rations has allowed my horses to keep consistent weight despite increases or decreases in their activity levels and has helped reduce my feed costs as there is no longer excess feed being provided to the horses. 

5. Always start with a quality hay base

One of the high quality hay bales I keep in the pasture for the herd to snack on during the day.

You can feed the best grain in the world but without quality hay or forage base that grain is insufficient. Horses are designed to have some sort of sustenance in their bellies at all times. Keeping quality hay in front of my horses at all times has greatly decreased boredom behaviors such as cribbing or pawing, and greatly increased their conditions. My feed costs have also been greatly reduced due to needing to feed less to meet nutritional requirements. 

I utilize pastures during the day with flakes of hay or round bales depending on the season. At night the horses are all provided with hay bags containing a balanced hay ration based on their individual sizes and needs. It should be noted that each horse should be fed enough hay and pasture for their own individual needs as opposed to all horses receiving full access. 

Hopefully, some of these lessons help you on your horse ownership journey! Happy feeding!